http://www.fakenewswatchdog.org/

Fake News Watchdog, G-6/2, Islamabad Federal Capital, Islamabad (2026)

09/04/2026

Claim:
A notification circulating on social media and broadcast as breaking news by a prominent Pakistani TV channel (ARY News) claims that the government has significantly reduced petroleum prices. According to the viral claim, petrol prices have been decreased by Rs. 78 per litre, while high-speed diesel prices have been reduced by Rs. 100 per litre.
Fact Check:
The Fake News Watchdog Team has verified that the circulating notification is fake and misleading. No such announcement or official notification has been issued by the Government of Pakistan or the Petroleum Division regarding any reduction in petroleum prices.
A review of official government platforms, including verified press releases and announcements, shows no evidence supporting these claims. Furthermore, credible sources confirm that no new summary or press release regarding petroleum prices has been released.
It is also concerning that the claim was aired without verification, contributing to the rapid spread of misinformation. The format and content of the viral notification raise serious doubts about its authenticity, indicating possible fabrication.
Conclusion:
The claim regarding a massive reduction in petrol and diesel prices is false and baseless. No official notification has been issued, and the information should not be considered credible.
The spread of such misinformation can create confusion and mislead the public. Media outlets are strongly urged to verify information before broadcasting, and the public is advised to rely only on official government sources for updates regarding petroleum prices.

P

30/03/2026

Claim:
Posts circulating on X (Twitter) and other social media platforms allege that a Pakistani Air Force (PAF) pilot, identified as Hussain Iqbal, was shot dead in Lahore after being involved in an alleged airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul. The claim further suggests that the purported airstrike caused civilian casualties in Afghanistan.

Fact Check
The Fake News Watchdog Team has verified the claim and found it to be false and fabricated. The investigation reveals the following key points:

• The image accompanying the claim is not recent. It traces back to a 2009 post on the Pakistani forum Defence.pk, and has no connection to current events.

• There is no credible evidence from official Pakistani, Afghan, or international sources confirming any airstrike on a hospital in Kabul involving the Pakistan Air Force.

• No verified or authentic reports exist regarding the killing of any PAF officer in Lahore under the circumstances described.

• Key elements of the viral narrative — including the identity of the alleged pilot, timeline of events, and details of the incident — remain unverified and contradict established facts.

• The pattern of misinformation indicates a coordinated disinformation effort, where outdated visuals are repurposed and paired with fabricated claims to mislead the public.

Conclusion:
The viral claim is baseless, misleading, and part of a deliberate propaganda campaign. It relies on an old, unrelated image and a fabricated storyline to create a false narrative targeting Pakistan and its armed forces.

Such misinformation can contribute to unnecessary panic and regional tension. The public is strongly advised to verify information through credible and official sources before sharing, and to avoid amplifying unverified or misleading content.

29/03/2026

Claim:
Posts circulating on X (Twitter), Facebook and WhatsApp claim that the Government of Pakistan has issued an official notification announcing a nationwide “smart lockdown.” According to the viral content, the lockdown will be enforced from 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 4, until 11:59 PM on Sunday, April 5, 2026. The posts further allege that all markets and commercial activities will remain closed, wedding ceremonies will be banned and highways and motorways will be shut down to restrict intercity travel.
Fact Check:
The Fake News Watchdog Team has verified that the viral notification is fake and fabricated. No such directive has been issued by the Government of Pakistan, the Cabinet Division or any provincial authority through official channels. A detailed review of verified government platforms, including official websites and social media accounts, shows no announcement of a nationwide smart lockdown.
Additionally, the viral document contains clear discrepancies in formatting, wording and official structure, which are inconsistent with authentic government notifications strongly indicating manipulation and misinformation.
Conclusion:
The claim is false and misleading. There is no nationwide smart lockdown announced in Pakistan. Such misinformation can create unnecessary panic and disrupt public confidence. Citizens are strongly advised to rely only on official sources, verify information before sharing and avoid spreading unverified content.

28/03/2026

Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Pakistan allegedly sent “10 oil tankers as a gift” carrying Iranian oil, a wave of propaganda began circulating on social media linking Pakistan to maritime incidents. In this context, an Indian account identified as Major Sammer () claimed: “A Pakistan flagged oil tanker was destroyed by Iranian missiles few hours earlier while crossing Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan has earlier betrayed Iran by re-routing Iranian oil to US.” This claim was widely amplified across X, Facebook accounts and other platforms, attempting to create a false narrative of Pakistan’s involvement.

A detailed investigation by Fake News Watchdog reveals that the viral claim is factually incorrect and misleading. The ship shown in the video is SAFEEN PRESTIGE, a Malta-flagged container vessel owned by an Egyptian company — not a Pakistani oil tanker. There is no record or evidence of any Pakistani-flagged vessel being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, the video is old footage from March 4, now being reshared to mislead audiences. Independent reports and visuals circulating alongside the same clip clearly identify the vessel as Maltese-flagged, directly disproving the claim.

In reality, Pakistan and Iran share long-standing historical, economic and diplomatic ties, with growing trade cooperation and border connectivity in recent years. At a time when both countries are engaged in diplomatic coordination to reduce tensions in the region, such misinformation attempts to damage bilateral trust and create unnecessary hostility.

27/03/2026

Former US President Donald Trump, while speaking to the media, claimed that Iran had sent oil tankers as a goodwill gesture initially 8 large tankers followed by 2 more, making a total of 10 and added that he believed these vessels were operating under Pakistan’s flag. Following this statement, a post from the account “” went viral on social media, alleging that Pakistan had “betrayed” Iran by transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz under its name and selling it to Iran’s enemies. The claim rapidly spread online, creating confusion and anti-Pakistan narratives.

Fake News Watchdog’s team conducted a detailed verification of the viral claim and found it to be false and misleading. The account “” is not an official Iranian authority but an Afghan-linked fake account with a pattern of spreading disinformation. Additionally, the Embassy of Iran in Islamabad has publicly declared this account fake, stating that it is attempting to spread venom and harm the brotherly and friendly relations between Iran and Pakistan. No credible evidence supports the allegation, confirming that the viral narrative is baseless and part of a coordinated misinformation campaign.

Importantly, no official statement from Iran has accused Pakistan of any such “betrayal,” and there is no credible evidence supporting these allegations. In fact, Pakistan and Iran maintain longstanding diplomatic and cooperative relations, with both countries engaging in regional coordination and dialogue. The viral narrative is therefore baseless and part of a coordinated misinformation campaign aimed at damaging Pakistan-Iran relations.

20/03/2026

Fake News Watchdog Releases Global Public Sentiment Report 2026

A new international report reveals that a majority of people across the United States, Europe, the Arab world, and Asia oppose further military escalation in the Iran–Israel–US tensions, favoring diplomatic solutions over conflict.

The findings highlight a growing gap between public opinion and government policies, while also underscoring the role of disinformation in shaping global narratives.

📄 Read the full report:
🔗https://www.fakenewswatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/Reports/PublicSentimentReport_March2026.pdf

💬 Do you think the world is moving towards peace or further conflict?

11/02/2026

Fake News Watchdog has been formally granted Election Monitoring Status for the Bangladesh General Elections 2026. This authorization enables our team to monitor information flows, fact-check misinformation in real time, and verify circulating claims with accuracy, independence, and transparency. Our commitment is to safeguard the integrity of public discourse and ensure that facts, not falsehoods, shape Bangladesh’s democratic process.

23/01/2026

The viral claim that Pakistan Army Brigadiers and Major Generals will be appointed as District Police Officers in Punjab is false. There is no official notification or policy decision to support this. According to government sources, no such proposal is under review. DPO appointments remain within the Punjab Police and provincial administrative framework. Verify before sharing.

23/01/2026

Fake News Watchdog and Pak-US Friends Forum Sign MoU to Jointly Combat Misinformation on January 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Fake News Watchdog (FNW), a fact-checking and media accountability initiative based in Islamabad, Pakistan, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pak-US Friends Forum (PUFF), an independent non-profit think tank based in Houston, Texas, to strengthen cooperation in combating fake news and misinformation in both Pakistan and the United States.
The MoU was signed during the inauguration ceremony of Pak-US Friends Forum (PUFF) by Dr. Syed Asad Ali Shah, Co-Founder and CEO of Fake News Watchdog, and Mr. Asif Ali Bhatti, Founder and Chairman of Pak-US Friends Forum.
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by H.E. Muhammad Aftab Chaudhary, Consul General of Pakistan in Houston, Texas, who participated as a distinguished guest and pledged his support for the collaborative efforts of both organizations. He appreciated the initiative aimed at countering misinformation and emphasized the importance of truth, responsible media, and informed dialogue in strengthening Pakistan–U.S. relations.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Asad Ali Shah highlighted that misinformation has emerged as one of the most serious challenges facing modern societies. “Fake news crosses borders within seconds and influences public opinion, social harmony, and policy decisions. Addressing this challenge requires cooperation, research, and responsible communication,” he said.
Under the MoU, FNW and PUFF will collaborate on joint research, fact-checking initiatives, media literacy programs, public awareness campaigns, training workshops, and collaborative publications. The partnership aims to promote transparency, ethical journalism, and informed public discourse.
Pak-US Friends Forum (PUFF) is an independent, non-profit think tank based in Houston, Texas, established to serve as a constructive bridge between Pakistan and the United States. PUFF focuses on dialogue, evidence-based policy, and people-to-people engagement in areas including diplomacy, development, media, and innovation, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
From FNW’s perspective, the collaboration represents an important step toward building cross-border partnerships to counter misinformation. “Truth cannot be protected by one institution or one country alone. This partnership reflects our shared responsibility to defend facts, strengthen media literacy, and promote accountability,” Dr. Shah added.
Both organizations expressed confidence that the partnership will contribute meaningfully to eradicating misinformation, curbing fake news, and strengthening trust in information ecosystems in Pakistan, the United States, and beyond.

29/12/2025

FACT CHECK 🚨
An old 2023 incident from Nowshera (KP) is being reshared with misleading claims against the Pakistan Army. The individual caught by the Excise & taxation department was a smuggler posing as an Army Major, later confirmed not to be an Army officer.
This is a case of old news being recycled to create false narratives.

29/12/2025

JMS Call for Papers, Editors, and Reviewers - 2026

The Journal of Misinformation and Society (JMS) is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural issue! We are a peer-reviewed, annual academic journal dedicated to tackling the challenges of information disorder in our modern world.

We are currently looking for passionate experts to join our community in the following capacities:

Call for Papers:
We invite scholars to submit original research on misinformation, disinformation, and digital media ethics. Help us shape the conversation on critical information challenges.

Call for Reviewers:
Join our database of peer reviewers to ensure the highest academic standards for our publications.

Call for Editors:
We are seeking dedicated individuals to join our editorial board and help steer the direction of the journal.

How to Apply & Register:
Authors & Reviewers: You can register directly through our online portal: https://www.fakenewswatchdog.org/journal/

Interested Editors: Please send your formal nominations along with your CV to: [email protected]

Join us in advancing critical research for a better-informed society.

Fake News Watchdog

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28/03/2026

27/03/2026

20/03/2026

11/02/2026

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